A great classic for the Rally Portugal route

The organizers of the 5th round of the season (May 9-12) did not show great imagination in developing their route. Not really different from that of previous years, it risks offering still very hard terrain.

Published on 10/03/2024 à 12:46

Loïc ROCCI

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A great classic for the Rally Portugal route

The route of the 2024 Rally Portugal will look a lot like that of 2023 (Photo: Paulo Maria/DPPI)

To see changes in Portugal, we may have to wait until the measures that have recently been developed by the FIA ​​working group are put in place. In the meantime, the event which will celebrate its 57th edition in May takes up a division which appears almost immutable.

Competitors will have to face 337,04 timed kilometers divided into 22 special stages. In the program, the first day will begin on Thursday evening with the Figueira da Foz superspecial (2,94 km). The rest of the stage will take place as usual in the Arganil region, 150 km south of Porto where the teams are based. This implies that there will be no assistance on Friday. The cars will return at midday on Saturday, this time with qualifying around Amarante to the east of Porto. Finally, the now very important day of Sunday will include 62,18 km which will be significant for the allocation of points. The very telegenic ES of Fafe with its bumps will be there and will serve as Power Stage.

If you rally of Portugal is always appreciated by competitors, because it constitutes the first classic trip on dirt and because the weather is often good, it is also feared. Season after season, the lack of renewal in the choice of routes leads to a very rapid deterioration of the special stages. If the latter are redone after the test, they deteriorate more and more and more and more quickly. The materials used do not usually withstand the treatment imposed by four-wheel drive for long. The second passages are generally very brittle with a high risk of punctures.

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Loïc ROCCI

Journalist specializing in rallying past, present and future... and with a southern accent

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